Golf-Young Manassero making Masters push at Transitions

Wed, 16 Mar 21:19:00 2011

Precocious Italian
Matteo Manassero, who set records and teenage hearts aflutter
at last year's U.S. Masters, is eager to shine at the
Transitions Championship this week in his quest to return to
Augusta.

The 17-year-old Italian sits 55th in the world rankings and
must break into the top 50 to come back to Augusta National for
the opening grand slam event of the year from April 7-10.

"It's obviously a good opportunity for me to be here to try
to get some points, some world ranking points and see if I can
get in Augusta," Manassero told reporters at Innisbrook on
Wednesday.

The Transitions field includes world number one Martin
Kaymer of Germany and American Nick Watney, winner of last
week's WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.

But Manassero is not flustered by top-flight competition.

Followed last year by an Augusta gallery crowded with giddy
teenage girls, the then 16-year-old Italian became the youngest
player to tee it up for a Masters and the youngest to make the
cut, finishing tied for 36th.

Manassero earned his ticket to the Masters last year by
winning the British Amateur champion but now as a professional
must fight his way into the field.

Trail blazer Manassero, who makes up for a lack of power
with deadly precision, left the amateur ranks after his Augusta
adventure and showed he belonged with the pros.

He won the Castello Masters last October to become -- you
guessed it -- the youngest player to win on the European Tour
and this season finished tied for ninth at the WGC Accenture
Match Play Championship.

Manassero said he planned to make his Masters push this
week and again next week at Bay Hill.

"I'm focused on making two good tournaments. I'm pretty
close. I'm not far away," he said.

The six-foot (1.83 metres), 174-pound (79kg) Manassero said
he had been working out to build his strength and practiced
hard on putting to become more consistent.

"There's a lot involved in the game to get some yardage to
carry with the driver, which is obviously important in courses,
maybe like Doral, or even Augusta, those kind of courses," he
said, reckoning he had added about 10 yards to his drives.

Manassero will be paired with Spaniard Sergio Garcia and
former Masters champion Zach Johnson in the first two rounds.

The Italian said he would feel at home playing with Garcia,
whose path he has followed as a young up-and-comer.

"It's very good. We are good friends. We played quite a lot
before," said Manassero. "We are quite friendly and know him
well. It's definitely a great pairing."